Great Blue I

I am really bummed that Hobby Lobby won't be selling these rounds anymore.

They have been a staple in my shows for several years now.

I thank God for a husband that can actually make these now using his router and 3/4-inch plywood.

Maybe not as inexpensive as the Hobby Lobby pieces but cost effective, nevertheless.

This one is another of my revisits to a sepia that did not sell.

I love the beauty of color added to the sepias.

Today was interesting to say the least.

I managed to paint in the morning after my Bible study and messages sent.

Chris was up at the church working while I was in the studio.

I had an appointment for our 17-year-old mama dachshund at 3pm.

Chris came home; we went to lunch and grabbed a quick nap before the afternoon tasks.

Never underestimate a quick nap!

I had talked to Chris about taking mama dog to the vet for her yearly exam 

I also wanted the vet to look at a sore on her side that was a small cut. 

Much to my alarm when I checked on her, the cut had opened to the size of a nickel.

I called the vet, and they said to bring her right away.

He was concerned too and took a slide and pressed it against the wound.

He also found a small tumor under her foot which was causing her to limp.

She's been limping, but we checked and nothing was apparent.

We thought maybe she had pulled something.

The slide showed a lot of white cells in the wound when stained.

Doctor prescribed antibiotics and a spray to treat the two spots.

Cone of shame too!

Fortunately, we have a blow-up collar which should keep her from licking the areas.

Separating her from the puppies in the kennel.

She's not going to be happy at all.

We're giving it a few days to check again.

She has an appointment on Tuesday at 8am.

Possible surgery to remove both areas.

Praying it just goes away and it's not cancer.

After we got home and her settled in, I went to the gallery to rehang my wall.

Much to my surprise, my space has moved to the back wall behind the check-out area.

A very nice space indeed!

The rehang, checking in, and marking all ten pieces I brought in took almost an hour and a half.

I did take 6 of the new dimensional works to the gallery as well.

I have enough to spare from the shows and am looking forward to Artwalk.

Which by the way, is tomorrow night!

Great Blue I, Acrylic on wood, 24 inches round

Day 66 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Nose to nose

 "Nose to nose"

Manatees are always an interesting creature to paint.

So big and so graceful as long as they're in the water.

Not so graceful out of the water.

Sea cows or chubby mermaids, take your nickname.

They are called sea cows because of their slow-moving nature and constant grazing.

I'm not sure where chubby mermaids came from!

We were fortunate enough to have them come up to feed on romaine lettuce that was placed in feeders while we were kayaking in Florida.

It was a mother and baby, and we felt honored to see them.

Closer to the Shrimp Festival I go.

Each day is an exercise in either frustration, or fun.

Come to think of it, most days are like that.

It all depends on how you view your world around you.

God does that sometimes, placing speedbumps that slow us down to a less frantic pace of life.

When we slow down, we see the beauty created around us.

We can enjoy the world God has placed at our feet.

We can become what God wants us to be in His plan.

We see the creator in our mundane everyday existence.

One day closer to the National Shrimp Festival and four other shows.

I am getting excited!

Nose to nose, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 12 x 24

Day 65 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Beauty in the Caretta caretta

Caretta caretta or loggerhead sea turtle, whichever you prefer.

I love the scientific name of this turtle.

I am beginning to find my pace in the 100 days.

Working hard to create every day.

Sometimes the paintings are easy to set up and paint, and sometimes they hurt my head!

Each day is a new adventure in paint!

I am still amazed that I get to create and even make money while doing it.

I truly believe the saying: Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life!

Finding what to paint can be a challenge though.

Some years Turtles are more popular; others it's the octopuses.

I've also painted manatees, alligators, pelicans, sharks, herons, 

seahorses, manta rays, and so much more!

Then, just when I think I have it all figured out, the rules change.

The neutral paintings have not slowed down even after 10 years.

I started the Sepia series when people would comment that the colors 

I would use might not go on their wall.

I prayed and the answer I got was go neutral.

To go from strong color to neutral was a stretch.

When they first started, they were browner.

Like a sepia toned photograph.

I purchased unfinished wood frames I bought from Michaels, 

hand painting them to match the sepia paint.

Then, a few years back, I mixed the sepia color bluer, and it's been that way ever since.

Anyway, today was a full day.

Helping others and then hitting the studio after getting blackberries, blueberries, and onions into the freezer.

Tomorrow, we bag them!

Beauty in the Caretta caretta, Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24

Day 64 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Great Blue and a turtle!

I have told you all before, I am not above revisiting paintings in an effort to salvage them.

This is one of those pieces.

It is painted on one of the wood framed sign blanks from Hobby Lobby.

I am very pleased with how it turned out.

He only needs varnish and a companion.

Another Great Blue in the works, facing in the opposite direction so they can be a pair.

I love painting the herons.

This is also from a photo I took several years ago while on vacation in Orange Beach.

I took my grandson home to Saraland after a weekend with Yaya and Yoyo.

I brought him home as our daughter was working hard to get her bedroom 

together after painting this weekend.

I then stayed and helped her with going through bags and boxes.

I came home with eyeshadow palettes, lip gloss, and bronzer, as well as hand cream.

She also gave me a red jacket.

Hmmm. 

She said I know you don't typically wear red, but it is a cute jacket.

I took the things after two hours with her and we got a lot done.

I also brought home a taboret she has had forever, still in the box.

I unboxed it at their house and put it in the car.

Came home, ate a late lunch, took a little nap.

Headed to the studio, for a few stolen moments.

Then the dogs wanted their ride, and I needed a break.

I put together the taboret, photographed it, and put it on marketplace.

Hopefully it will sell, as it probably won't work in my studio.

We ate leftovers for dinner, and I again headed to creating.

I'm thankful for leftovers, it makes for a quick dinner and clean up!

I also managed to paint this little guy today too!

He is a small part (about five inches) of a 24 by 24 shadowbox.

I'm trying to find my groove in painting the shadowboxes again.

It will take a bit of thinking as their set ups are so very different from the new dimensional rounds.

This piece will have three turtles on it eventually.

I may try to paint the colored heron as well tomorrow.

I'm needing to change out my space at the gallery downtown before Artwalk this Friday as well.

So, lots of paint slinging tomorrow!

Goodnight from the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama

Great Blue and a turtle, Acrylic on wood and canvas, heron 15 x 30

Day 63 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025